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Community Corner

Law Enforcement Officers to Carry the Torch for Special Olympics Across Connecticut, June 4-6

The annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut will take place on June 4, 5 and 6. Officers will carry the “Flame of Hope” through the towns and cities they serve to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics and inspire  communities to accept and respect people of all abilities. To find out more about the Law Enforcement Torch Run, including times it will be coming through your town, visit www.soct.org and follow www.facebook.com/CTLETR and www. twitter.com/SOCTconnecticut.

Over 1,500 local law enforcement officers are expected to participate in the Run and cover more than 530 miles for Special Olympics. Spectators are encouraged. Everyone can show their support by cheering on these officers as they pass by and donating in their honor at www.soct.org/torch.

The three-day Run will conclude at Southern Connecticut State University on Friday, June 6, when officers will run a “Final Leg” into Jess Dow Field on campus and be part of Opening Ceremonies for Special Olympics Connecticut’s Summer Games weekend, where more than 2,000 athletes are expected to compete at that event. All are invited and there is no fee to attend Opening Ceremonies, set to begin at 7:15 p.m. For more information visit wwwlsoct.org, call 203-230-1201 or email specialolympicsct@soct.org.

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Law Enforcement Torch Run: June 4-6, 2014

Day 1: Wednesday, June 4th

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• Leg 1: Old Lyme to Ledyard (10  a.m. - 5 p.m.) 

East Lyme, Groton, Ledyard, New London, North Stonington, Old Lyme, Stonington, Waterford

•Leg 2: Putnam to Ledyard (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Griswold, Killingly, Ledyard, Lisbon, Montville, Norwich, Plainfield, Preston, Putnam

Day 2: Thursday, June 5th

• Leg 3: North Branford to Hartford (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Cromwell, Hartford, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, North Branford, North Haven, Rocky Hill, Wallingford, Wethersfield

• Leg 4: Windham to Hartford (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Bloomfield, Coventry, Eastern Connecticut State University (Windham), Hartford, Manchester, Mansfield, South Windsor, Tolland, Vernon, Windsor

•Leg 4a: Enfield to Glastonbury (9:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.)

East Hartford, East Windsor, Enfield, Glastonbury, South Windsor

• Leg 5: Watertown to Hartford (7:15 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Avon, Barkhamstead, Canton, Hartford, Litchfield, New Hartford, Simsbury, Thomaston, Torrington, Watertown, West Hartford, Winchester

• Leg 6: Seymour to Hartford (9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Beacon Falls, Bristol, Farmington, Hartford, Seymour, Waterbury, West Hartford, Wolcott

Day 3: Friday, June 6th

• Leg 7: Newington to New Haven (8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

Berlin, Cheshire, Hamden, New Britain, New Haven, Newington, Southington

• Leg 8: Chester to New Have (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Branford, Chester, Clinton, Deep River, East Haven, Essex, Guilford, Madison, New Haven, Old Saybrook, Westbrook

• Leg 9: New Milford to Bethany (8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.)

Bethany, Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Milford, Newtown, Oxford, Prospect, Southbury

• Leg 9a: Ridgefield and Wilton (9 a.m. – 11 a.m.)

Ridgefield, Wilton 

• Leg 9b: Monroe to New Haven (11 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Ansonia, Monroe, New Haven, Shelton, Trumbull, Woodbridge

• Leg 10: Greenwich to New Haven (8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Bridgeport, Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, Milford, New Haven, Norwalk, Orange, Stamford, Stratford, West Haven, Westport

About the Special Olympics Connecticut Law Enforcement Torch Run®

The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Connecticut is one of the movement's largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicles. This year-round program involves law enforcement officers from across the state who volunteer their time to raise awareness and funds through events including Tip-a-Cops, Cop-on-Tops, and Jail N’ Bail fundraisers. 

In addition, on June 4, 5, and 6, 2014, over 1,500 officers and athletes will carry the Special Olympics "Flame of Hope" - as they do every year - through hundreds of cities and towns across the state, covering over 530 miles.  The runners will reach Southern Connecticut State University where they’ll be part of Opening Ceremonies for the Special Olympics Connecticut Summer Games, to be held June 6-8, 2014.

Law Enforcement Torch Run Sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors: Dream Ride 2014, Whelen Engineering, WWE; The Bearingstar Insurance Charitable Fund; JN Phillips Auto Glass; Gold Sponsors: Adams Hometown Markets / IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Papa’s Dodge; 

About Special Olympics Connecticut

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for over 14,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities. 

Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 170 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for all people, on and off the playing field. 

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